Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, a renowned Diabetologist, has highlighted the concerning prevalence of fatty liver disease in India, noting that one in three Indians is affected. He emphasised that fatty liver often precedes Type 2 Diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
Launch of the Indo-French liver and metabolic disease network
Dr. Singh inaugurated the Indo-French Liver and Metabolic Disease Network (InFLiMeN), a virtual initiative aimed at preventing and curing metabolic liver diseases. The event was held at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in New Delhi.
Addressing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Dr Jitendra Singh noted that InFLiMeN would tackle key issues related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a common metabolic liver disorder that can lead to cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. The NAFLD is closely linked to diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Dr. Singh, drawing on his expertise as an endocrinologist, underscored the connection between fatty liver and these metabolic disorders.
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Dr Jitendra Singh attributed the rise in NAFLD in both the Indian subcontinent and Europe to lifestyle changes, diet, and metabolic syndromes such as diabetes and obesity. He pointed out that while NAFLD in the West is mostly associated with obesity, in India, it affects about 20% of non-obese patients.
Burden of liver diseases
The minister emphasized the significant burden of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in India and France, noting the similar progression of NAFLD and ALD from steatosis to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Highlighting India’s advancements in healthcare, Dr. Singh stated that the country has become a global leader in both curative and preventive healthcare. He stressed the urgent need for low-cost diagnostic tests to detect the stages of fatty liver and their progression to severe diseases, tailored to the Indian context.
Collaborative program for liver diseases
Dr. Jitendra Singh called for a joint multi-disciplinary collaborative program like InFLiMeN to understand liver disease development and management using a comprehensive omics approach for biomarker discovery. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between the government and private sectors to enhance healthcare services and promote healthy living.
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The Minister highlighted government initiatives and policies aimed at improving the healthcare system, emphasizing the need for India-specific interventions due to the unique Indian phenotype. He advocated for “Indian Solutions for Indian problems.”
Support for cutting-edge science
Dr. Singh stressed the need for generous funding for advanced scientific research and expressed confidence that the virtual node would soon become a real node. He assured support from his departments and commended Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPERA) for their efforts.
Dr. Singh congratulated Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin and his team, along with the French collaborators, urging them to find low-cost, high-output solutions for metabolic disorders. The InFLiMeN initiative involves joint efforts from 11 French and 17 Indian doctors.
